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Refuse and Recycling

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1. Can the Borough pick up electronics?

Yes, the Borough will pick up your electronics (printer, TV, toaster, etc...) but you'll need inform Public Works before sitting it out. You can do this by filling out the Bulk Refuse & Brush Collection Form or call Public Works at (814) 234-7135. Bulk Refuse & Brush Collection Form

2. Am I required to recycle?

Yes, Pennsylvania Act 101 mandates recycling for many communities including State College, College, Harris, Ferguson, Harris and Patton. All residents and businesses are required to recycle the following:

• Mixed office paper (magazines, paperboard, envelopes, etc.),
• Newspaper & phone books,
• Plastic bottles, narrow-necked jugs & jars,
• Steel & aluminum cans,
• Glass bottles, and
• Corrugated cardboard.

In addition to these items, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority will no longer accept covered devices (electronics) as refuse.

3. Who should I contact about recycling?

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority (CCRRA) is responsible for curbside recycling in State College. To contact CCRRA call (814) 238-7005 or visit the CCRRA office during regular operating hours, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The CCRRA’s transfer station is located behind the mall at 253 Transfer Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823.

Recycling drop-off bins are available 24/7.

Centre Region Recycling and Refuse Authority

4. How do I obtain recycling and refuse containers?

The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority provides red bins for residential recycling and blue bins for multifamily housing units and commercial recycling. Visit CCRRA's website to find out how to obtain a bin.

State College Borough provides bins for both trash and organics recycling. Each property is assigned two distinctive carts, one to be used for regular trash (black lid) and one for organic waste collection (green lid). Through a mailed survey, each residence had the opportunity to select the size cart to be used for each collection: 35-gallon (2-3 tall kitchen bags), 65-gallon (4-6 tall kitchen bags) and 95-gallon (7-9 tall kitchen bags). Contact the Public Works Department at (814) 234-7135 with any questions.

5. What day of the week is my refuse picked up?

Curbside refuse and recycling collection occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Bulk and brush item collection begins on Monday of each week unless there is a holiday.

Routes are planned to allow early access to areas where parked cars will pose a problem for collection vehicles. Curbside collection of trash and recycling, including organics, occur on the same day. Check the map provided or call (814) 234-7135 to find out the day of your collection.

Collection Day Map

6. What else can I recycle?

View our A to Z Guide on Recycling for information on all things recycling. Below are a few of the highlights:

• Miscellaneous plastics: Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority has a recycling drop-off container at their office and at the Hamilton Square Shopping Center for items such as margarine and yogurt containers. Drop-off recycling information is available on their website.
• Plastic bags and other plastic film: Many of the major retail stores and grocers provide bins for their customers to recycle plastic grocery bags and bread bags. Stores in the State College area that recycle plastic bags include: Giant, Wegman’s Food, Weis and Wal-mart.
• Organics: Composting also known as organics recycling is available for all residential refuse accounts. The Borough will begin collecting food and yard waste at the curb to be recycled in April of 2013. You can also compost at home.
• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL’s): The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority has a free CFL recycling program in place that accepts unbroken, compact bulbs. Just drop the bulbs off at their office located behind the mall at 253 Transfer Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823.
• Covered devices (computers, monitors, etc.): The Centre Region Recycling and Refuse Authority has opened a permanent collection site for electronics. Check out their Electronics Recycling Guide for more details on the program.
• Books: Soft cover books can be collected at curbside if bundled just like magazines and newspapers or at a drop-off bin labeled “mixed paper.”
• Tires: Tires can be recycled at the Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority for a fee of $10.00 for any tires weighing up to 280 pounds. If the weight is greater than 280 pounds, the tires are charged at $70/ton ($100/ton for commercial accounts).
• Antifreeze: Most antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which causes dizziness or nausea and is deadly if ingested. Most service stations and repair shops recycle antifreeze. If you replace your own anti-freeze, have a local service station recycle it. Also, you might consider purchasing non-ethylene glycol anti-freeze.
• Lead-Acid (Automotive) Batteries: When purchasing a new battery for your vehicle, most places offer a cash discount for returning your old one. If you have an extra lead-acid battery that you need to dispose of, stores that sell car batteries will accept them back.
• Motor Oil: Several service stations in Centre County accept used motor oil from residents. The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority keeps a list of motor oil recyclers available for residents who need to dispose of their used motor oil.
• Microwaves: Residents may bring microwaves to the Transfer Station during normal operating hours and place in a location designated for Scrap Metal.
• Brown paper bags: Recycle brown paper bags with newspaper or use to hold your compostable items for curbside recycling.
• Household batteries: Alkaline batteries can be thrown away with you regular trash. Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and small sealed lead (Pb) can be recycled. Drop-off locations include Radio Shack and Wal-mart. You may also bring your old rechargeable batteries to the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority office.
• Roof Shingles: The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority accepts post-consumer shingles at a discounted rate of $35 per ton. An acceptable load should include only shingles, nails, and tarpaper.
• Paint: The best way to dispose of paint is to use the paint. If you cannot use the paint try giving it to someone who can: theater groups, church groups, shelters for people in need, community organization or Habitat for Humanity's ReStore (call for specification 814-353-2390).

7. Does refuse pickup change during the holidays?

Yes, see the holiday refuse schedule for more information.

Holiday Refuse Schedule

8. Does State College compost?

Yes, the Borough composts and is expanding its composting program. In the spring of 2013, the Borough expanded residential collection of food waste Borough-wide to decrease the amount of waste sent to the landfill and collect organic matter for its composting operations. Find out more about the Borough's compost program.

9. What is accepted in residential organics recycling carts?

The following Items are accepted as part of our residential organics recycling program:

• food waste both cooked and uncooked,
• paper products such as plates, napkins, tissues and newspapers,
• garden waste,
• grass clippings, brush and leaves.

10. Why is State College Borough switching to automated collection?

Borough Council authorized changing the existing labor-intensive collection system to an automated system in order to expand the food/organic waste collection pilot program to all Borough residential refuse customers without increasing refuse fees. The collection of refuse carts by this automated equipment takes about 12 seconds per stop compared to close to 45 seconds per stop with current collection equipment. Automated collection is also a safer collection method, reducing the risk of injury to Borough employees.

11. What is automated collection?

Automated collection is a new collection method in State College, but is used across the Commonwealth and around the world. Each residence is provided a wheeled cart for refuse and a wheeled cart for organics. Carts are rolled to the street on collection day. The collection truck will lift and dump the container, replacing it at the curb. The operator almost never leaves the truck and controls the entire process from the driver’s seat.

View video of trucks in action...

12. Do I use my own trash bins?

No, each household is assigned up to two distinctive carts at no additional cost, one to be used for regular trash (black lid) and one for organic waste collection (green lid). Each residence had the opportunity to select the size cart to be used for each collection:

• 35-Gallon (equivalent to one typical household garbage can)
• 65-Gallon (equivalent to two typical garbage cans)
• 95-Gallon (equivalent to three typical garbage cans)

13. Why must I use a Borough issued cart?

These carts are necessary for automated collection of refuse and the additional service of food waste collection curbside. Each cart has an identification number linking the cart to your property and to your refuse account.

14. When and where should I place my refuse and organics carts?

Place your carts at the curb the night before collection day. Carts must be placed out for collection by 7 a.m. on your collection day. Retrieve your carts by the end of your collection day. Crews work 10-hour days; therefore, your carts may be collected late in the day. Please wait an appropriate amount of time before calling in a missed cart.

Instructions for Borough issued carts: Place carts three feet apart at the curb line. Keep carts, at least, three feet away from mailboxes or other obstructions. Point the lid arrows on the cart toward the street. Retrieve your carts by the end of your collection day. It is important to place your cart correctly at the curb to improve automated collection efficiency.

15. Can I bag my organic materials?

Yes, if you use the correct bags. For example, paper grocery bags are compostable. Compostable plastic bags are also available. Do not use “bio-degradable” bags, unless the product also says “compostable.” Even "bio-degradable" bags may breakdown into compounds that are undesirable in finished compost.

Compostable Bag Flyer

16. Do I still have to bag my trash if it is in a cart with a lid?

Borough ordinances still require that all refuse material be bagged. Otherwise, the loose material can still blow away while the cart is being dumped on windy days. To keep your neighborhood and the Borough litter free, please bag your trash. Organic waste, however, can be placed loosely in the organics recycling container.

17. What if I have extra trash that won’t fit in the cart?

Most homes will probably experience this at least once or twice per year. If you occasionally have extra trash, place it bagged or in a spare container near the regular trash cart on collection day. The driver will dump the cart then place the extra material into the cart to dump it again. For organic waste, make sure to use a compostable bag or place in a spare container, no loose material will be collected.

18. What should I do when it snows?

Carts should not be placed on a snow bank. Accumulated snow should be cleared before the carts are placed at the curb.

19. Why do I have to make sure the lid is closed?

The lid on Borough carts is designed to discourage pests, including crows, from scattering rubbish. Also, trash taken to the Transfer Station for disposal is billed to the Borough by weight. Snow and rain will add unnecessary water weight to the trash. Since water weighs 8 pounds per gallon, it doesn’t take much rain or snow to add significant and unnecessary weight to the trash, increasing the cost of disposal.

20. If I move, do I take the cart with me?

No, the cart is assigned to the address on the refuse account.

21. What if I need a larger or smaller cart?

If you select a cart and determine that it is not the right size for your volume of refuse or organics recycling, the Borough will offer you the opportunity to exchange carts. Please call the Public Works Department at (814) 234-7135 for information on how to exchange carts.

22. Am I required to recycle organics?

No. Participation in organics recycling is strictly voluntary; however, restrictions remain on certain organics, like grass clippings, which may not be collected as garbage. The Borough performs seasonal leaf collection and weekly brush collection, both from the ground. Loose piles of organic material will not be collected, except during the seasonal leaf collection schedule. The organics carts are for food scraps and other organics like grass clippings, garden gleanings, hedge clippings and spent flower and vegetable plants; if you do not compost those items in your back yard. If you opt out of the organics recycling program, grass clippings may be dropped off at the Glenn O. Hawbaker Recycling Center.

23. Can I get at-door trash collection?

At-door service is offered for residual waste (garbage) for a fee unless you have a medical exemption. As with other recycling, organics must be taken to the curb. To request medical exempt status for at-door collect, please contact the Public Works Department at (814) 234-7135.

More information on at-door service...

24. What food scraps can be recycled?

Nearly 30% of what we throw away in our garbage is organic and the average single-family household throws away about 45 pounds of food scraps and food-soiled paper every month. Items such as vegetable and fruit trimmings, meats, fish and poultry scraps and bones, plate scrapings, egg shells, coffee grounds, paper towels and napkins–even greasy pizza delivery boxes–can be recycled in your organics cart.

25. What happens if my cart is damaged?

Manufacturers offer 10-year warranties on these carts, so damage should be rare. If the damage is a result of wear and tear or Borough crews collecting the carts, we will repair or replace the cart. If a cart is damaged due to misuse, the cart will be repaired or replaced and the resident will be invoiced for the cost of repair or replacement. Please contact the Department if your cart is damaged at (814) 234-7135.

26. Can I get an extra garbage cart?

If your volume of residual waste occasionally exceeds the capacity of your cart, we will accept an additional bag of trash beside the trash cart. If your volume of refuse exceeds a 95-gallon cart on a regular basis, someone on our staff will meet with you to discuss recycling more to reduce the volume of waste headed to the landfill. Alternative billing arrangements can be made if it is not possible to reduce your residual waste to a single 95-gallon cart.

27. Can I get an extra recycling bin?

Contact Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority at (814) 238-7005 to inquire about additional recycling bins.

28. How do I request bulk item collection?

Bulk items are collected on a regular weekly schedule, except during holiday weeks. It is necessary to call in or complete the web form to request a bulk item collection. Call (814) 234-7135 to arrange for bulk pick up or select the "Submit a Service Request" button on the Borough's homepage to access the bulk item request form.

Submit a Service Request

29. What items are accepted in the green-lid organics cart?

The following items will be accepted:

• Leaves (except during spring and fall leaf collection)
• Food waste
• Grass clippings
• Branches & tree limbs, under 2" in diameter
• Roots
• Plants, flowers, shrubbery and prunings
• Sawdust
• Wood ash & charcoal (cold ash only)

30. What items are accepted in the black-lid garbage carts?

Use your garbage cart for everything that cannot be recycled in your green-lid organics cart or recycled in you red or blue recycling bins.

31. What items are not be accepted in the green-lid organics cart?

The following items will not be accepted in the green-lid organics cart:

• Leaves (during spring and fall leaf collection)
• Pet droppings or kitty litter
• Plastics or synthetics
• Tree limbs over 2" thick or tree stumps
• Sod and soil
• Lumber or construction material
• Non-compostable bags
• Coal ash or hot wood ash/charcoal

32. How should I prepare items for my green-lid organics cart?

• Rake leaves and grass into the cart by placing it on its side
• Cut branches to fit in the cart with the lid closed
• Remove soil from root systems of plants
• Place ashes in the receptacle only after fully cooling
• Use compostable bags for any additional yard waste

33. How do I get my leaves collected?

During the fall leaf collection season, leaves are collected at the curb every over week. During the spring leaf collection season, leaves are collected every week. During the winter and summer months, leaves can be deposited in the organics recycling bin for collection.

To view the current leaf collection schedule and find out how to prepare your leaves for collection, visit the Refuse and Recycling webpage. If you choose to opt out of the organics recycling program, leaves can be dropped off at Glenn O. Hawbaker Recycling Centre during the summer and winter.

Leaf Collection Schedule

34. How do I start or stop my refuse collection?

Please contact the State College Borough Finance Department at (814) 278-4766 to start or stop service at your residence or business.

35. How can I find out more about the Borough's organics recycling program?

Watch a video about the organics recycling program by clicking here.